Vitiatumite

Vitiatumite is a rare silicate mineral enriched in titanium and vanadium. It forms in high-temperature hydrothermal veins associated with basaltic and ultramafic rocks and is typically observed as small prismatic crystals or intergrown grains. The mineral's structure is monoclinic, with mixed Ti and V ions occupying octahedral sites within silicate layers, and silicon-oxygen frameworks accommodating modest substitutions by aluminum and iron.

Occurrence and occurrence context: The type locality is reported in hydrothermal veins within the Cascade Range region, with subsequent finds in a limited number of basalt- and ultramafic-hosted deposits elsewhere. It commonly occurs alongside minerals such as titanite, rutile, ilmenite, magnetite, and diopside, and can be associated with calcite and quartz in vein-fill assemblages.

Physical properties and identification: Vitiatumite exhibits a color range from olive-green to brown, with a vitreous luster and a transparent to translucent appearance in well-formed crystals. It has a hardness in the mid 6 range on the Mohs scale and typically shows two directions of cleavage. The calculated specific gravity is around 3.3 g/cm3, with birefringence and refractive indices consistent with silicate minerals containing Ti and V.

Nomenclature and significance: The name derives from the Latin vita, meaning life, combined with the common mineral suffix -ite. Described in the early 2020s, vitiatumite is of interest mainly to researchers studying Ti–V-bearing silicates and high-temperature hydrothermal processes. It has no established large-scale industrial use beyond mineralogical and geochemical research.